Animated toy



W. D. TORME ANIMATED TOY March`z4, 1936.

` Filed Jan'. 7, 1955 2 sheets-sheet'l NVENTORI* @fr/726.

ATTORNEYS.

March 24, 1936. l w, D TORME 2,035,353

ANIMATED Toy Filed Jan. '7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES ANIMATED TOY William D. Torme, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Walk-Em Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application January 7,' 1933, Serial No. 650,719 5 claims. (c1. i6-12s) My invention relates to animated 'toy and more particularly to those embodying human, animal and bird iigures, and my main object is to provide a toy of this form which propels itself in a going direction when placed on an inclined surface.

A further object of the invention is to so design the novel toy that its limbs assume vibratory movements when the ligure is in motion, giving the impression that the figure is walking.

A still further object of the invention is to embody in the novel toy a flexible joint device which facilitates the limb movement as gravity urges the body of the figure forwardly.

Another object of the invention is to construct the novel toy principally from cardboard or like material, whereby to make it inexpensive to produce and sell.

An additional object of the invention is to l produce the novel toy in the form of parts which are easily assemblable by the purchaser, or user, to form the ligure.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the speciiii cation and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the novel toy, in animal form, showing its application;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figi;

Fig. 3 is a group assembly, in perspective, of the parts making up the toy;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a bird gure showing its application; and

Fig. 5 is a group asssembly view, in perspective, of the parts making up the toy of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings,v it will be noted that the principal parts of the toy are of fairly thick cardboard to hold their shape. Thus, the body lil of the animal figure is composed of a pair of flat side pieces, spaced by a looped top strip II and a short bottom strip I2. The side pieces are cut to form the body of a donkey, dog, cat or other animal figure, and

l are perforated with a series of slots Iilx near the edge to receive a similar series of. tongues I Ia and 12a extended from the sides of the strips II and l2 when the body is assembled. The thickness of the material renders the tongues l IIa and IZa iirm and provides bearings of ample depth in the slots to render the body very rigid when assembled, it being understood that the tongues are designed to snugly fit the slots.

The front and rear edges of the side pieces l I0 are cut with slits Illa and IUb, respectively,

to receive cross-strips I3a and Illa of celluloid, or other rm but flexible material, these strips` being slotted in the engaging edges to have their sides overlapping the material of the side pieces as an expedient to retain the strips against shifting laterally. The middle portions of the strips are cut to prevent outward tongues I3b and I4b, respectively, the tongues being medially recessed at I3c and |40. The head I3 and tail Ill of the ligure are flat formations, slitted at |311 and- Idd in their inner edges to receive the respective tongues I3b and I 4b and allow them to overlap as in the previous instance, whereby to checktwisting tendencies ofY the head or tail. I-Iowever, the inherent flexibility of the strips, as augmented by that of the tongues, imparts a noddingV movement to the head I3 and a Wagging movement to the tail I4 as the ligure is in motion. Y Y

The front legs I5 and the rear legs I6 of the figure are flat cardboard strips of proper form, and are slitted down from the top for a short distance, as shown at la and ISa. Likewise, the body pieces I0 are slitted upwardlyas indicated at IIlc-theslits |00 being in alinement with the slits I5a and l6a when the legs are in position. The alined slits, of which four have been` formed, are intended toy receive tabs I'I of celluloid, spring metal or other rm but exible material, the tabs forming the uniting or connecting element between the body and the legs of the figure.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the form of the tabs I1, and it is seen that each of these is formed with laterally offset sections, each section being out with a slot I'Ia from the remote end. The slots I'Ia are of a width to snugly receive the parts united, as indicated in Fig. 2, the walls of the` slots assuming the form of side guards for the said parts while the medial portion of the tab fills the alined slit as a connector. The parts are thus held together and cannot become deflected from each other laterally. While the slo-ts I1 could be placed in alinement to serve the `connecting purpose, it is preferable that they be offset as shown, permitting the overlapping of the parts united and the greater lateral spacing of the pairs of legs, by placing them outwardly spaced from the body. This provides greater stability, preventing the ligure from falling over on its side.

When the figure is placed on` an inclined surface, such as a board, table or cardboard runway, facing with the incline, it will assume a forward` movement, the legs going into a vibratorymotion resembling walking in short, rapid steps. These are primarily induced by the gravitational eiect of the incline upon the body to urge the same forward, the body being the relatively heavier portion of the figure. As noted, the feet of the latter are fiat underneath but pointed in front and the effect of the body urge will be to pivot the feet on their points. As well as the figure may be assembled, it is practically inevitable that one foot is very slightly forward from or longer than the other. As the head I3 makes the forward portion of the body heavier than the rear portion, the urge of the body will be directed against the front legs I5 first to flex the joint tabs l1 forward at the middle while that leg pivots on its point or toe which is forward of or longer than the other. This action constitutes the pivoting leg a lever to lift the forward portion of the body. As this occurs, the other front leg swings forward by the release of its tabs tension. Now, the forward portion of the body overbalances laterally from the lack of a dual support, falling from weight upon the swung leg. Finally, the forward urge of the incline pivots the body on the point of the swung leg with a sufficient force to unseat or free the first mentioned leg, this force being aided by the tendency of the tab-tension in said leg to become released. The process repeats itself, producing a succession of alternate walking strokes and the advance of the figure down the incline. Similarly the rear legs will follow suit at the same rate as the front legs, though not necessarily in the same order. However, the rapidity of the leg strokes, as found by numerous demonstrations, makes the relative order of the leg strokes of little or no importance, as the lively and realistic action holds the attention of the observer.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification in the form of a bird figure. Here the sides I8 are united by a looped spacer I9, as in the previous instance, leaving an opening in the bottom for the application of two legs 20 by means of flexible tabs 2|, precisely as in the previous instance. The head 22 is also flexibly attached by means of a strip 23 similar to the previous strips I3a, Illa..

Owing to the medial position of the legs 20, a different type of foot formation is provided to facilitate the walking movement and secure ample stability for the figure. Each leg 20 is rounded at the bottom, as noted at 20a, and slitted at 20b from the front and rear to receive the sections of a bow spring 24. The inner end of each section is slitted as indicated at 24a, to permit the ends to overlap the material of the leg and meet, making the spring appear as of one piece.

The arch of each spring 24 is extended at the ends with short, fiat portions 24h, beyond which are upward terminal bends 24e. The bottom of the leg projects a short distance beyond the line of the flat portions 2417, and the spring simulates a birds foot, the terminal bends also preventing the ends of the latter from becoming caught in the surface on which the figure may be placed or assume motion.

'I'he legs of the figure I8 are so set that the figure rests back on the rear portions 24D of the springs when it is placed on the incline, this being a precaution to prevent it from pitching forward at the outset. However, a very slight forward urge with the hand rocks the figure on the rockers formed by the rounded feet 20a to rest on the frontal flat portions 24h of the springs 24. As in the instance of the four-legged figure,

a tension is imparted to the connecting tabs 2l as the body rocks forward, and the slightest inaccuracy in the positions of the feet will rest one on the incline first, leaving the other free to :nove forward from the tension of its tab as the body of the figure settles back. The latter action will now release the other leg for a forward stroke, and the strokes of the legs will in this manner alternate to produce the rapid walking motion of the figure.

It will be seen that the novel toy in the main or modif-led form is a simple device whose action is in keeping with logical mechanical principles. As distinguished from walking toys of conventional types, my invention does not depend upon or execute a swaying or wabbling movement from side to side to accomplish its forward progress. The forces or actions combining to produce the progress of the figure create no perceptible incidental effects, for all that is apparent is the ultimate effect or walking action of the figure. Further, the parts of' the toy may be stamped and furnished flat, or practically so, in an assortment, with instructions or an illustration from which the average child could easily put the toy together. Also, the incline may be included in at form, with suitable means to set it up.

In conclusion, it will be apparent that the toy, on account of its eXtreme simplicity, may be produced at low cost and designed with a great variety of figures or subjects with realistic colors and other fascinating effects.

I claim:

1. A toy adapted to simulate a walking movement down an incline by the force of gravity comprising: a body; a plurality of legs; resilient members of thin fiat flexible material detachably securing said legs to said body; and resilient feet secured to the lower portion of said legs and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

2. A toy adapted to simulate a walking movement down an incline by the force of gravity comprising: a body; a pair of legs; means for 1esiliently securing said legs to said body; and feet secured to the lower ends of said legs, said feet having vertically resilient cantilever portions extending forwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of said legs to facilitate the simulation of a walking movement.

3. A toy comprising: a body; a plurality of legs whose bottom portions are rounded to form rockers for feet; resilient members of thin flat flexible material detachably securing said legs to said body; and resilient feet secured to the lower portion of said legs.

4. A toy comprising: a body; a pair of legs; means for resiliently securing said legs to said body; and vertically resilient feet secured to the lower ends of said legs, said feet comprising bowsprings extending forwardly and rearwardly from said legs to facilitate the simulation of a walking movement.

5. A toy comprising: a body; a pair of legs whose lower end portions are rounded to form rockers; means for resiliently securing said legs to said body; and vertically resilient feet com- Vprising bow-springs detachably secured to said legs above the rocker-portions, said feet having their toe-portions bent upwardly to prevent tripping on the surface over which the figure may simulate a walking movement.

WILLIAM D. TORME. 

